odds ’n’ ends

HANOI:

Vietnam agreed Wednesday to rescue more than 1,000 bears from illegal farms across the country, in a move to end the traditional medicine trade in the creatures’ bile.

Though bile farms are already outlawed in Vietnam, bears are still captured and caged in illicit facilities where their bile is extracted using invasive and painful techniques.

Vietnam’s Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) and non-profit group Animals Asia signed an agreement Wednesday to rescue all remaining bears from farms, committing to end bile trade and close all facilities within five years.

“This is a truly historic day,” Animals Asia CEO Jill Robinson at the signing in Hanoi, adding that the decision “will lead to the definitive end to bear bile farming here in Vietnam”.

Bear bile farming has been outlawed in Vietnam since 1992. But many bile farms use a legal loophole allowing them to raise the animals as pets.

There are about 1,200 bears in captivity in Vietnam today, down from more than 4,000 in 2005, caged in more than 400 bear farms across the country. (AFP)

GILFORD, NH:

These buffalo have been roaming through a New Hampshire town.

Police in Gilford spent afternoon corralling a herd of buffalo that got loose from a local farm. They say on Facebook the buffalo are “scared and running.” They ask drivers not to approach the buffalo or blow their car horns.

The Bolduc Farm tells WMUR-TV nine of the buffalo have made it back. Police are still looking for a mother and two yearlings.

Robert Bolduc says the buffalo may have been startled by some construction work and found a weak spot in a fence. (AP)

CINCINNATI:

A popular baby hippo has expanded her influence to a Cincinnati-based ice cream chain by inspiring its new flavor Chunky Chunky Hippo.

The new ice cream flavor offered by the ice cream company Graeter’s is a toffee ice cream with salted roasted peanuts and milk chocolate caramel truffles. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Cincinnati Zoo. The new flavor is sold in scoops at local shops and in pints at Graeters. com.

It’s the latest development in Fiona’s rise to fame. She was named an honorary sheriff’s deputy last week. Video updates such as Fiona taking a bottle, splashing or running have drawn millions of views online.

Graeter’s is headquartered in Cincinnati, but has shops in numerous states. (AP)